Napa: 7 Gems And A Clunker – The Finale

Now that we have cleansed our palates from the disappointing stop at Darioush and accepted their subsequent apology, I’m happy to report that the final three tasting experiences on our Napa trip met, and even exceeded, our highest expectations.

The next stop was Chimney Rock where we were greeted, ushered into a private room and seated at a table set with glasses for each wine we would be tasting and this:

Talk about making us feel welcomed!

Chimney Rock is owned by The Terlato Wine Group. Terlato is a worldwide importer and marketer of wines. They have full ownership of seven wineries and are partners with several more.

You may have seen Chimney Rock or other Terlato wines on Top Chef.

Visiting the beautiful Chimney Rock winery you would never suspect they had a giant corporate umbrella hanging overhead. The tasting room and grounds are so warm and welcoming they make you feel like you are at some small, family owned winery.

Chimney Rock is probably known best for their killer Cabernet Sauvignons. They make a range of single vineyard Cabs that each beautifully represent the area of Napa Valley from which they come.

As you can see from the VERY WELCOMING menu card, we had an opportunity to taste an array of wines ranging from a white blend to awesome Cabernet Sauvignons. I’ll let you in on a little secret…we even got to try a few wines that were not on the list.

Chimney Rock is truly one of my very, very favorite wineries and, as a lover of classic and delicious Napa Cabernets, holds a special place in my heart and in our wine cellar.

Located high up on Pritchard Hill with stunning views of Napa Valley and Lake Hennessy, Chappellet is a winery worth visiting.

We started our experience with a taste of Chenin Blanc and worked our way through a Chardonnay and a Zinfandel while strolling the facility and grounds with our uber knowledgeable and interesting guide.

After the tour we sat at a table amid the aging barrels and tasted a few more wines.

Because we had a birthday girl in our group and because her darling daughter had called ahead to let the folks at Chappellet know, we were treated to a taste of Chappellet’s flagship wine The Pritchard Hill Cabernet. Yum and Yum!

Chappellet is a great name to know because they make excellent wine at a price point that is a bit lower than many of their Napa brethren and they are fairly widely distributed.

The experience at Hendry is like no other. Definitely one I would recommend, especially if you are a student of wine and wine making.

George Hendry has a degree in nuclear physics from UC Berkley. He spends his time crafting excellent wine and designing particle accelerators. No big deal…

The Hendry family has farmed the same Napa land since the 1930’s. George grew up on that land, gaining a deep understanding and appreciation for every acre. Today Hendry wines owns 114 acres divided into 47 individual blocks.

The facilities at Hendry are not at all flashy. In fact, the first time we visited we drove by the place 3 times before noticing the sign marking the driveway.

That’s it. That is how you know you have arrived. I kind of love the simplicity.

George and his team apply an almost scientific approach to making wine – but in the best possible way. And, with great success.

It really is tough to adequately describe the uniqueness of the Hendry visit. We were lucky enough to be led by George’s right-hand gal and “Jan of all trades” who has a knowledge of everything from the dirt through the final bottled product. Jan’s husband, Jeff, is George’s partner in the cyclotron business.

George, who lives on the property, was putzing around and popped in to say hello and answer questions.

Just a regular guy who happens to make great wine and also particle accelerators.

Hendry produces lots of different kinds of wine in their 47 blocks which makes the tasting experience quite rich. White wine lovers will appreciate the balance of reds and whites on the tasting menu.

That looks like so much fun and that food looks so good! Glad you had fun, I think getting together with friends and/or couples to just drink a bunch of wine and cook is the best way to enjoy life!Deanna recently posted…Andersonville and Midsommer Fest

I totally agree, Deanna! With a large group, especially, it is way easier than trying to dine at a noisy restaurant (do I sound old, or what?!)!Mo Lux recently posted…Napa: 7 Gems And A Clunker – The Finale